The imperative for collaboration

An opinion piece by Patrick J. Lynch, CEO, NZ Catholic Education Office

The famous American, Judge Wendell Oliver Wilkie, once observed, “Taxation is the price we pay for a civilised society.”

While most people reluctantly put up with having to fork out their hard earned dollar to the tax man, few would disagree with Wilkie’s 19th century statement.

The 21st century is the century of the global community where transnational problems have become everyone’s problems – witness financial systems, commerce, global warming and resource issues, to name a few.

Our “civilised society” is expanding and changing at an ever-increasing pace.

A nation’s internal policies are fast having implications for other nations as world trading systems become more interdependent.

Countries that are on the front foot look to the future and promote alliances of one kind or another, in order to strengthen themselves and to promote the collaborative ethic.

Fortunately, NZ is to the fore in these developments and plays an active role in the community of nations, despite its small size.

During the 1990’s we saw changes emerge in our social systems as the internet began to become more sophisticated. Our social systems now include information transactions and sophisticated technical structures that facilitate many levels of collaboration between individuals and groups.

The internet, which is becoming the primary piece of world infrastructure, demonstrates the power of an idea translated into action. The recent start up of CERN’S Large Hadron Collider in Switzerland is another example. Its long term practical implications are incalculable.

While human beings have long understood the power of collaboration in their family, work place and civic setting, it is still challenging for many individuals to step up to an understanding of what it means to be a responsible global citizen.

All too often historical, nationalist and regional animosities get in the way of effective collaboration.

There is hope, however. This is based on the possibilities that new information, and communication technologies and services offer the world’s population. Chat rooms and information transfers of all kinds are helping to break down relational barriers.

In order to enable billions of people to gain access to these modern technologies, educational opportunities are crucial.

Education is the engine of progress and the foundation of wealth creation and economic growth that ultimately will bring greater harmony to our world, which is still very lopsided when it comes to wealth aggregation.

Lofty ideas about the improvement of people’s lives need to start with the building of trust between different groups and nations, which is fundamental to progress. If peace begins with a smile, having a friendly attitude is the place to start when engaging those who are different.

Out of these approaches will come trust and ultimately greater collaboration.

Judge Wendell Wilkie’s idea is a powerful one which bears reflecting on.

Our tax dollar underpins our education and social support systems – both marks of a civilised society. Individuals even in NZ need to do more than just pay their taxes, however. They have to bring themselves to accept that they are global citizens and, like all good citizens, become doers and contributors rather than takers.

If this happens, as a nation we will help make the world a better place through collaboration and reaching out to others.